Safety, Compliance, and Operational Standards
This domain tests the safety, legal, and standards context of device use: ingress protection, hazardous locations, lithium battery handling, ergonomics, privacy, retention, and incident reporting. Expect questions that ask whether a device or action is permitted in a given environment.
Core rules and concepts
- IP ratings follow IEC 60529. The first digit is solids, the second is water. IP54 means limited dust ingress and splashing water; IP65 means dust-tight and water jets. Rugged is not the same as waterproof, and a higher rating does not authorize charging in a wet area.
- Hazardous locations: use only devices certified for the zone and atmosphere. Do not charge, swap batteries, or open covers in an explosive atmosphere unless the procedure and certification explicitly allow it.
- Lithium batteries: use approved chargers, avoid damage and extreme heat, and follow transport rules for damaged or recalled cells.
- Privacy: capture only the data the job requires, do not photograph people or confidential documents, and keep personal data on encrypted storage, not removable cards.
- Retention and access: records are kept for the defined period, access is role-based, and incidents such as loss, theft, or data exposure are reported immediately.
Worked example
A crew will wash down equipment with a hose in a dusty plant. The available tablet is rated IP54. Correct judgment: IP54 is not rated for water jets, so either use an IP65-or-better device or a suitable protective enclosure, and keep covers closed. Reasoning: the second digit describes water exposure; splashing and jetting are different tests. The supervisor records the device change in the job file.
Traps that cost marks
- Treating "rugged" as "waterproof."
- Charging a device in a hazardous zone.
- Photographing confidential or personal information "for reference."
- Storing job data on an unencrypted removable card.
- Delaying an incident report until end of shift.